Inclination indicating device



l.l c. MILLER INCLINATION INDICATING DEVICE Sept, 9, 1941.

Filed May 18. 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 .ililllfflllllff rl!! flllllllllll fr,

Sept; 9, 1941. L. c. MILLER l INCLINATION INDICATING DEVICE Filed May- 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in inclination indicating devices.

In the drilling of wells, it is not unusual for the drill bit to be deflected from its course during the drilling operation, such deflection being caused by inclined strata, or other causes. If the well bore is being drilled on a true vertical line, this results in said bore inclining from the vertical and in some instances, successive deviations or variations may interfere with continued drilling and also with'subsequent pumping operations. If angular drilling is being done, a slight deflection or deviation from the intended course of the drill bit may result in an erroneous curvature or angularity of the well bore, with the result that the producing formation is missed entirely and never penetrated by the bit. For these reasons, it is not only desirable, but practically essential that the driller check the inclination of the bore hole from time to time as drilling proceeds so as to be advised ofthe inclination from the v ertical of said bore.

It is, therefore, one ofthe objects of this invention to provide an improved device which will accurately indicate and record the deviation or drift of a bore hole from the vertical, whereby the drilling may be performed in accordance with such indications to drill the bore in a desired manner and at the desired inclination.

Another object o f the invention is to provide an improved inclination or drift indicator wherein a photographic record of the angle of inclination from the vertical is made, the photographing operation being controlled by a time mechanism, whereby the device may be set at the surface and lowered into the bore hole .to automatically record theinclination at the desired elevation.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved indicating device of the character described, wherein photographic printing out proof paper, or other light sensitive paper is employed for receiving the indication of the-inclinatio'n of the bore; the use of such paper eliminating the necessity of a developing process and greatly facilitating practical use of the device in the eld.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved device, of the characterfdscribed, wherein the lens for focusing light rays onto the photographic paper is universally mounted within an outside casing, whereby the lens assumes a vertical position at all times irrespective of the inclination of the outer casing; the angle between the lens and the casing 55 indicating the angle of inclination of the casing,

and the bore within which it is lowered, such angle being recorded on the photographic paper to record the inclination orI drift of said bore from the vertical.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an indicating device, of the character described, having a, time controlled mechanism associated with the photographing means, whereby the time at which the device is actuated and also the duration of the photographing operationA may be readily and accurately controlled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved inclination indicating device which may be run into the bore holeo on a iiexible line to facilitate the lowering thereof; said device having a protective housing therearound to prevent damage to said device. during its travel through the well b'ore.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading `of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: i

Figure 1 is an elevationvof an indicating de vice, constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the device mounted Within a .protective housing, whereby it may be readily lowered through the well bore,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of said indicating device.

Figure 3 view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is aview, similar to Figure 3, showing the upper portion of the device, said view being taken from the opposite side illustrated infFigure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical,

sectional view, showing the parts illustrated in Figure 3, which parts comprise the timing mechanism,

Figure 8 is a view of the lower portion of the device, showing the position which the device wouldl assume in an inclined bore. f

Figure 9 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 7, and

'Figure 10 is a view of the lower portion of is a transverse, vertical, sectional the device, showing a slightly modinedform of lens arrangement. a

In the drawings, the numeral I3 designates an elongatetubular casing which is preferably constructed in three sections, A, B and C. The section A has the upper end of its bore internally screw-threaded and is coupled to the intermediate section B by means of a coupling block II and collar IIa. 'I'he upper end of the'intermediate section B is connected to the uppermost section C by means of a coupling member or collar I2. The upper end of the section C is closed by a suitable collar I3, which may be suitably secured to said upper end. The outer periphery of the collar I3 has its upper portion screw-threaded to receive a cap member I3. The upper section C houses the timing mechanism, as willy be hereinafter explained, while the intermediate section B receives dry cell batteries I3. 'Ihe Iowerm'ost section A houses the photographic mechanism and has its lower end normally closed by an end cap or plug I3, which is threaded into said lower -end soas to be readily removable.

The mock which 1s secured within the upper end of the lowermost section A is formed with an' axial bore I 1 within which an electric lamp I3 is' mounted. The base of the lamp rests on an internal, annular shoulder I3 .which is formed within the bore I'I, whereby said lamp is suitably supported within the block and has its globe depending into the bore of the section A. The lamp I3 is retained in position within the bore I1 by a spring-pressed contact plunger 23, which plunger is mounted within an axial opening 2| formed in an insulating block 22.'

The block 22 is suitably mounted within-the coupling collar IIa, as is clearly shown in Figure 2; The plunger 23 is tubular and has a coiledspring- 23 conilned therein. The upper end of the spring 23 engages the underside of a contact' disk 2l, which disk is secured to the.

upper end of the insulating block 22. Since the tubular plunger 23 is slidable within the block, while the contact plate 24 is fixed to said block, it will be manifest that the coiled spring exerts its force to urge the plunger' downwardly into engagement with the encl contact ofthe electric lamp I3. Any desired number of dry cell batteries I3 may be mounted within the intermediate section B and the lowermost battery has its end contact engaging the contact disk 23,-whereby when the electrical current through the batteries is complete the current ilows through the disk 23, coiled spring 23, plunger 23 and to the lamp I3. Therefore-when the circuit to the batteries I3 I3 is illuminated.

An elongate. tapered orl conical sleeve or tubular pendulum 23 is mounted within the loweris closed, the lamp most section A below the electric lamp I3 and this sleeve or tube extends substantially throughoutthe length of the section A. The upper end of the sleeve or tube is enlarged and is V gradually tapered or reduced to'ward its lower end, as is clearly shown in Figure:.2.,.-The upper end of the sleeve is mounted, by means of a Each pin has a point contact with the bore of the opening 23, whereby lthe ring may be with relation to the ilange 23.

The ring 21 is also connected to the end of the sleeve or tube 23 by means of secured in the ring 21, while their inner ends extend through openings 3I formed in the sleeve or tube 25. The pins 33 are constructed in substantially the same manner as are the pins 23, whereby the tube may undergo a swinging the tube is generally known as a Cardan sus-- pension and permits a universal movement of the tube 23 with respect to the vertical wall of the section A. With this arrangement, the section A may be inclined from the vertical and the sleeve or tube 2l will always remain in a V vertical plane, said tubeacting as a pllnnb bob.

As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the lan'lp globe extends downwardly into the upper end of the sleeve or tube-23 and a condensing lens 32 is mounted within said belowthe lamp globe. The lens 32 extends transversely across the bore of said sleeve and which disk is onto the center.

servesA to collect the light rays emitting from' the globe and focus them -downwardly through the sleeve or tube' onto a fproiection lens 33. The projection lens 33 is suitably molmted in the lower end of the sleeve or tube 23 and serves to direct the light rays onto the upper end of the plug .I3 which is threaded into the lower end of the section A.

The plug I3 has its,- upper-end formed with an annular, peripheral ilange or lip 3|, whereby a recess 33 is provided in the top of said plus. `Tlsxisreccss is arranged to receive a disk'33,

preferably` constructed of a photographic printing out proof paper. 0f course, the invention is not'to `be limited to this particular type of paper.

exposure to light, may be employed. The upper surface. of the disk 33, as is clearly shown in Figure 6, includesa plurality of concentric circles 31 which are imprinted or otherwise displayed thereon. The center ofthe disk represents the true vertical plane and when the elongate sleeve or tube 23, whi'ch carries lens 32 and 33 is disposed in a true vertical piane, the light from the lamp I3 is directed exactly of the disk 33. When the tube 23 assumes a position at an angle from thevertical, the light Arays are directed onto the disk Cardan suspension, within a depending flange 23, which is preferably formed integral with the coupling block II. The suspension includes a ring 21 which encircles the upper end of the 70 sleeve or tube, being interposed between said sleeve andthe depending' ange 23. 'I'he ring 21 is secured tothe ilsnge 23 by means of radially extending pins 23which pins. extend'through 1..' were me 75 off-center from said disk. The innermost circle 31 may represent one degreefromthe vertical, while the second circle may represent two degrees, the third circle three degrees and so on to the outer edge of said disk. f

Whenthediskisplacedinthetopofthe plug I3 and said plus. inserted into the lowermost section A, said paper is unexposed. When itisdesiredtotakeareading, -thecircuittothe electric lamp I3 is closed to illuminate the lamp. The light rays from the lamp pass through the lens-32 and then through the lens 33 and are concentrated at a given point on the disk 33. Iftheelongatelenscarryingtubeisina true vertical position, the light beam is concentrated on the center-of the disk 33. lThis beam uPDelf *ddii tional pins 33. The pins 33 have their outer ends sleeve immediately as any light sensitive pa- `per or material. lcapable of being developed by striking the surface of the disk results in an exposure of said surface, which brings out a dot on the disk. The lamp I8 is illuminated for Areading is taken with the parts in this position,

it will be manifest that the dot or point which has been exposed to the light beam will be offcenter of the disk 36. The position of the dot will indicate the angle of inclination of the outer casing from the vertical and, by removing the disk 36 and noting the position of said dot, it is possible to accurately determine the inclination of the outer casing at the time that the lamp I8 is illuminated.

For closing the electrical circuit through the batteries I to the lamp I8, the upper contact of the uppermost battery I5 is engaged by a springpressed plunger 38 (Figure 2). The plunger is slidable within -an insulating block or collar 39, which is mounted within the coupling collar I2 which connects the intermediate section B with the upper .section C. The plunger 38 is tubular and has a coiled spring 40 mounted therein. The upper end of the spring engages a metallic contact 4I which is mounted within the top of the insulating collar or block 39. The contact 4I is connected by a wire 42 with a metallic contact plate 43, which plate is mounted on a suitable insulated base 44. A contact screw 45 is threaded through the base and also through the plate 43, whereby said screw is adjustable relative to said plate. A contact arm 46 has its upper end fastened to a suitable bracket 41, which bracket is grounded to the metallic section C. When the contact arm 46 is swung inwardly to engage the Contact screw 45, it will be manifest that an electrical circuit is completed from ground through the arm 46 and screw 45, then through the plate 43, wire 42 and contact 4I-to one side of the battery I5. The other side of the battery is connected to the electric lamp I8, as has been described, and, thus, it will be seen that when the switch .arm 46 is engaged with .the contact screw 45 the lamp I8 is illuminated.` By adjusting the screw 45, it is possible to control the amount of movement necessary before the arm 46 engages said screw to close the circuit.

For actuating the switch arm 46 to swing the same into engagement withthe contact screw 45,

. an elongate rod 48 is provided. This rod has an annular projection 49 on its lower end, which projection is adapted to engage a projectionl 50 formed on the switch arm 46. By observing Figure 4, it will be seen that when the rod 48 is moved upwardly, the projection 49 on said rod plunger 5I' and the operating rod 48 attached thereto upwardly. The upper end of the plunger 5I engages the periphery of a cam disk or wheel 55, which disk is secured to a rotatable shaft 56, which shaft is driven by the timing mechanism T, as will be hereinafter' explained. The cam disk is provided with a recess 51 (Figure 4) and, manifestly, when said recess moves opposite the plunger 5I, Vsaid plunger is moved upwardly by the coiled spring 54, whereby the operating'rod 'closes the electrical circuit by swinging the contact arm 446 into engagement with the contact screw 45. As long as the upper end of the plunger remains in the recess 51 of the cam 55, the circuit to the lamp I8 remains completed and said lamp remains'illuminated. As soon as the cam rotates sufficiently to move the upper end of the plunger 5I out of said recess, the plunger is de pressed to again open the circuit, as has been explained.

The shaft 56 on which the cam 55 is mounted extends through the side plates of the housing 53 of the timing mechanism T and has a gear 58 freely rotatable thereon. This gear has a clutch plate 59 secured .to one side thereof and said clutch plate is adapted to be engaged by a second clutch plate 60 which is secured on the shaft 56.

, The clutch plates 59 and 66 provide for a frictional drive between the shaft 56 4and the gear 58.

The gear 58 has connection through the usual 'gear train 6I with the escapement gear 62 of the timing mechanism. The escapement gear operates the escapement 63 in the usual manner and said escapement is, of course,connected with the usual balance wheel 64 of the timing mechanism.

For driving or rotating the shaft 56 to impart a rotation to the cam 55, a flat spring 65 has one en-d secured to said shaft while its other end is secured by means of a pin 66 to the inner wall of the side plate 53. When the spring 65 is wound, the unwinding of said spring imparts a strikes the projection 50 on the switch arm to I Figure '1. A coiled 'spring 54 constantly urges the 75 rotation to the shaft 56 and the speed of rotation of said shaft is controlled by the timing mechanism hereinbefore described. The connection between the shaft and the gears of the timing mechanism is set up by the frictional engagement of the clutch plates 59 and 66.

For winding the spring and also for adjusting the cam 55, whereby said cam must rotate a predetermined distance before moving its recess 51 into registration with the plunger 5I, the shaft 56 is extended beyond the clutch plate 66. This end of the shaft has a bevelled gear 61 secured thereto and this gear is in constant mesh with a pinion 68. The pinion 68 is mounted on a shaft 69 which is journaled in the collar I3 which closes the upper end of the section C. A suitable hand knob 10 is fastened to the upper end of the shaft 69 so that said shaft may be manually rotated.

By manipulating the knob 10 to rotate the shaft 69, it will be manifest that a rotation may be imparted to the shaft 56 through the gears 68 and 61. In this manner, the at spring 65 may be Wound a predetermined distance and also the cam 55 rotated to adjust the recess 51 relative to the upper end of the plunger 5I, whereby .the

vexact time of the upward movement of the plunger 5I and the resultant closing ofthe circuit to the lamp I8 may be accurately controlled.

With this arrangement, it is' possible to adjust sible to lower the device to a predetermined point in the well bore before the indication is taken. The face of the gear 61 may be provided with a dial 61a (Figure 2) which is visible through a window 13 in the housing plate 53, whereby accurate adjustment may be readily made.

For limiting the rotation of the shaft and cam to one complete revolution, the bevelled gear 61 is provided with an extending stop pin 1I which is secured to its peripheral edge portion. This pin is adapted to engage a stop member or screw 12 which is threaded through the housing 53 above the window 13 in the upper end of the housing. It is manifest that the timing mechanism T may be of any desired construction and may be made to require any amount of time for one complete revolution of the cam 55. The device may be lowered into the well bore in any suitable manner', but it is preferable that the same be lowered on a wire line, whereby the time and labor required for such lowering 'is reduced to a minimum.

In Figure l, the device I0 has been shown as mounted within an outer housing 15, which housing has its lower end closed by a plug 16. This plug is preferably encased within an outer rubber shield 11, which shield absorbs any shock of the housing 15 striking the side walls of the bore. An elongate tube 18 extends axially within the housing 15 and receives the device I0, said device being confined between spring-pressed plungers 19. The tube 18 is spaced from the bore of the housing 15 by means of resilient shock absorbing collars 88 The upper end of the housing is provided with the usual cable socket 8|, -whereby a cable or other iiexible line 82 may be employed to lower said housing through the bore, With this arrangement, the device I0 is protected from damage and shock during the lowering operation.

In the operation of the device, the hand knob 18 is first rotated to adjust the cam 55 with relation to the plunger 5I. This adjustment is made at the surface of the well and is in accordance with the time required for lowering the device to the point at which the reading is taken. An unexposed disk of the photographic paper 36 is inserted within the recess in the plug I6. The device I0 is then placed within the housing 15 and is lowered through the bore of the well. As the lowering operation is performed, the timing mechanism T is rotating the cam 55, which cam has the plunger 5| engaging its periphery. At this time, the plunger is in its lowered position, as is the operating rod 48 secured thereto` with the result that the switch arm 46 is disengaged from the contact screw 58.

When the point at which a reading is to be taken is reached, the lowering of the device is stopped and said device remains suspended in from the lamp I8 pass through the lenses 3 2 and 33 and a concentrated beam of light isdirected onto a given point on the disk 36. The point at which the beam is concentratedI depends entirely upon the position of the tube with relation to the outer casing I0. This beam of light serves to expose that particular point of the disk36 and results in a dark spot or dot on the exposed portion of said disk. The particular shape of the recess 51 and the cam 55 controls the length of time that the circuit to the lamp I8 is closed and, as said cam continuesv its rotation, it will be evident that the plunger will move out of the recess 51, which results in a downward movement of the plunger and an opening of the circuit by disengaging the switch arm 46 from the contact screw 50. After the lamp is extinguished, the device is removed from the well bore, after which the disk 36 is removed from the recess 35 ofthe plug I 6. By observing the spot on the disk, which spot was formed by exposing a portion of said disk to the concentrated light beam, it is possible to accurately determine the inclination of the outer casing from the vertical.- Since the outer casings inclination is controlled by the inclination of the bore, it is manifest that the reading on the disk 36 gives an accurate indication of the angularity or inclination from the vertical of the bore at the point at which the reading was taken. The disk may be filed away and provides a l permanent record, which may be referred to at a later/date.

It will be manifest that the entire device is simple in construction and the arrangement provides for -the lamp I8 to be automatically illuminated Aand extinguished to record the inclination from the vertical. It is pointed out thatl the .lens 32 could be eliminated, as shown in Figure the well bore. Obviously, if the bore at this point is inclined from a vertical plane, the housing 15, as well as the entire device I0, is inclined at the same angle. the lens tube 25, said tube swings to a true vertical position, regardless of the inclination of the outer casing of the device I0. As soon as the cam 55 has rotated suillciently to move its recess 51 opposite the plunger 5I, said plunger moves upwardly into said recess, being urged thereinto by the spring 54. As soon as this occurs, the operating rod 48 moves upwardly, whereby the switch arm 46 is swung to engage the contact screw 58. As explained, the engagement of the contact arm 46 with the screw 5|! closes the electrical circuit through the batteries I5 to the electric lamp I8, whereby said lamp is illuminated. The light rays Due to the Cardan suspension of 10. In this case, the light rays from the lamp I8 are directed downwardly through the conical tube or sleeve 25 and strike the projection lens 33 which concentrate said light in a lxed beam on the disk 36. Also, the lenses 32 and 33, or the single lens 33 could be supported by means other than the tube or sleeve as, for example, said lens may be suspended from a wire or other frame (not shown). So long as the lens is free to assume a true vertical position, irrespective of the inclination of the casing, the purposes of the invention will be accomplished. As before pointed out, the timing mechanism T may be of any desired construction, such as is used in Watches and clocks. This mechanism may be readily adjusted to require a given predetermined length of time before the circuit to the lamp is closed. Thus, by adjusting the mechanism at the surface, sufcient time for lowering the device to a desired depth at 4which the reading is to be taken is had.

The foregoing description of-the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1.,A device for determining the inclination of a well bore, including a casing lowerable through the bore, light sensitive medium carrying means in the casing, light ray concentrating means above said carrying means for directing light rays upon the medium, and to indicate upon the latterqthe position of the concentrating means with respect to the casing, means 'formounfing the light ray concentrating means for universal pendulum-like movement relative to the casing, a source of light in the casing above the concentrating means to directrays from the source into the concentrating means, and means to secure the source of light to the casing against movement relative thereto, whereby the source oi light remains fixed during all movements of the concentrating means.v

2. A device for determining the inclination o! a weil bore, including a casing lowerableA through the bore, light sensitive medium carrying means in the casing, iight ray concentrating means above said carrying means for directing light rays upon the medium, and to indicate upon the latter the position of the concentrating means with respect to the casing, means for mounting the light ray concentrating means :tor universal pendulum-like movement relative to thef casing.' a

source of light in the casing above the conceny trating means to direct rays from the source into the concentrating means, meansto secure the source of light to the casing against movement relative thereto, whereby the source of light. remains xed during all movements of the concentrating' means, wherein the concentrating means has an open upper end portion and wherein the' source of light consists of an electric bulb which projects into said open upper end but is in such relation thereto soas to provide for swinging movements of the concentrating means while the bulb remains in xed position,

, 3. A device for determining the inclination of a well bore, including a casing lowerable through the bore, light sensitive medium carrying means in the casing, light ray concentrating means above said carrying means for directing light rays upon the medium, and to indicate upon the latter the position of the concentrating means with respect to the casing', means for mounting the light ray concentrating means for universal pendulumlike movement relative to thecasirig,V a source or light in the casing 4above the concentrating means to direct rays from the source into the concentrating means, means to secure the source of light to the casing against movement relative thereto, whereby the source of light remains xed during all `movements o! 'the concentrating means, wherein the concentrating means consists of a tubular member heaving a ilared upper end. wherein the source of light consists of an electric bulb which projects into the flared upper end or the concentratingN means and is in such spaced relation thereto. to provide for all movements of the concentrating means while the electric bulb remains inits ilxed position, and wherein 'the mounting means is disposed between saidared upper end'ofthe concentrating means and the adjacent portion of the casing..

4. In a device for determining the inclination of a well bore of the type wherein a pendulum is universally suspended axially of an elongate enclosure having therein a light sensitive medium disposed below said pendulum, and wherein the pendulum is provided with a light projecting lens, the improvement which includes a light source mounted in the: enclosure in stationary relation to thependulum concentrically thereof and in position to direct a stream of light axially through said lens, whereby a slender beam o! light is directed upon said light-sensitive medium and the pendulum may swing without swinging said light source.

LEONIDAS C. LULIER.. 

